In setting the stage for the details that were released, Marchionne said FCA does not expect low fuel prices "to fundamentally change, directionally," and that it believes U.S. buyers' shift toward SUVs, crossover utility vehicles, and pickup trucks is permanent.

He did not directly address the risks of the plan should gasoline prices rise sharply and suddenly as they did in 2008.

This is a real shame as to how many have such short term views/memories. When the next very predictable gas price or climate change shock disrupts the market, they will once again claim to have been blindsided by forces that were unforeseeable and laugh all the way to the bank with bailout funded golden parachutes.